Holy Relic
Holy Relic
Saintess Deoni, who arrived with Priest Mender, wasn't alone.
Besides the four companions Seneran had assigned, another four who seemed to be heresy inquisitors like the ones from when we raided the demon worshippers last time had joined them. Including the Saintess and Priest Mender, a whole group of ten came swarming in at once.
Even though she'd pulled her hood down to cover her horns, Demonfolk horns came in such a wide variety of shapes that the lumpy silhouette was practically perfect for drawing attention in every possible way.
Because of that, a question like a newspaper headline—'The Itisel Border: Is This Really Alright?'—briefly flickered through my mind... but perfect surveillance didn't exist, so I decided to just let it go.
I mean, just look at those western kingdoms up there, overflowing with lunatics selling weapons to orcs.
"It's been a while, Saintess. Could this be the time for that revelation you mentioned back then?"
Since we'd shared what you could call a comrade-in-arms experience, I greeted her warmly. The Saintess pushed back her hood, revealing perfectly symmetrical, magnificent horns, and looked at me with an odd expression as she answered.
"I still do not know myself. However... you seem to have grown stronger. I can even feel Divine Power from you—what in the world happened?"
Of course. If that crazy self-destructing saintess could notice, there was no way our Saintess wouldn't. But there were too many eyes watching right now, so I just laughed it off for the moment.
"Go on ahead and talk. I'll follow shortly."
Even if it was near my house, I felt a bit off walking around unarmed, so I at least had a needle pouch strapped to my waist, but since I wasn't wearing any other gear, I sent the Saintess's party ahead to the Temple of the Demon God, then returned to the cabin to grab my weapons.
Asilie had also finished getting ready when she heard the Saintess had arrived, and following Laika—who now had the path completely memorized and confidently led the way—we headed to the temple. Around fifteen people who would normally have been hard at work inside were all outside taking a break.
The fact that Priest Mender's escorts were also outside made it clear that Seneran had given word that she wanted only the relevant parties to talk.
Since we were on familiar terms by now, I exchanged casual greetings and stepped inside. The Saintess, who had been examining the temple with a serious expression, and the others turned their gazes toward me.
"While coming here, I heard the story from Brother Mender. Let us go to the altar. If what the Brother said is true, you should be able to receive a revelation. However... I would ask the others to wait here."
While receiving a revelation, the subject is defenseless.
Even if she roamed around at all hours armed and armored, she was still the official saintess of a religious order, so she would have no choice but to maintain security as strictly as possible.
From the look of it, Priest Mender wasn't accompanying us either. He showed no particular reaction, so he must have already finished talking with Master and Seneran before I arrived.
Asilie also nodded as if she fully understood and sat down on a suitable rock, holding Laika in her arms, so I gave a light wave and followed behind the Saintess.
When we entered the corridor leading to the altar, two of the four who had been sticking close like bodyguards stopped and blocked the entrance. I figured the remaining two would guard the Saintess at the altar, but they only came about ten steps further inside before turning around and taking up their positions.
"Aren't those people coming all the way inside with us?"
I asked, puzzled by the reaction that differed from what I expected. The Saintess looked back at me as if she were the one who was puzzled and answered.
"Since Epaga has granted you a revelation, Eldmia is not a target of caution. There could be an intrusion from outside; there is no reason to divide our forces."
Of course, I had absolutely no intention of causing harm, but to think she would trust me this much without any particular verification.
"...Hm."
I thought about it for a moment. To her and the other heresy inquisitors, a revelation was probably as absolute a proof as 'Oh, there you are, you fucker' was to me, so it very well might be.
Having arrived at the altar like that, I recalled my previous experience and stopped at a point where I wouldn't be affected by the Divine Power. The Saintess must have already heard that much from Priest Mender, because she approached the altar and closed her eyes without any particular question.
"Perhaps it is only my order that does this, but the very first thing one learns in the process of becoming a saintess is how to react and commune with Divine Power."
As she said that, she began telling me things I hadn't even asked about in a calm tone.
"If a previous generation's saintess or saint exists in the same era, you receive their help. If not, you go through a process of steadily cultivating your abilities through the knowledge left in the order."
"So you couldn't receive revelations from the very beginning?"
"You do receive one... but that is not a revelation, it is an oracle. The oracle that I am a saintess."
I'd heard that revelations were fluid but oracles were immutable and rare. If the first oracle you ever got was one telling you that you absolutely had to live as a saintess, wouldn't you feel all kinds of complicated about it?
Maybe she felt something similar to the unfairness Siegfried felt?
"That causes your innate talent to explosively blossom, and you can see it as the foundation being laid for you to hone it. When you are ready to receive your first revelation after that, your body will react to Divine Power first."
"That's the first time I've heard that, so it's interesting. What kind of reaction?"
I asked with a mix of half genuine interest and half pretense to keep the conversation smooth. Saintess Deoni turned her calm gaze toward me and murmured quietly.
"Nausea or dizziness."
Then she tilted her head slightly to the side as if asking if I wasn't feeling anything, demanding my answer.
Just in case, I tilted my body slightly to the side, but her gaze followed me straight on, thanks to which I was forced to feel an utterly dumbfounded emotion.
"...Are you saying I am currently ready to receive a revelation?"
"I am glad you are quick to understand. Come 'inside.' I will assist you."
With a light nod, Saintess Deoni's hand stretched out toward me.
"Previously, only Magic Power could be felt, but that divinity clearly felt now is the proof. Ah, I am not speaking of the divinity felt from the other sacred artifact you carry."
Just in case, I'd been about to take out the seed of the World Tree from my chest, but the Saintess immediately tacked on those words and blocked that route entirely at the source.
"It seems that for some reason, the innate divinity within Eldmia's body had been sealed. I have neither seen nor heard of such a case myself, so I have no words to offer even if you ask 'why.' What is certain... is that with the help of another sacred artifact, you gradually became accustomed to divinity, and in that process, a rift formed in the internal seal, causing divinity to flow out."
Though we couldn't even know how much power that was.
I stood there, dumbfounded and unable to even react properly. Saintess Deoni let out a deep sigh, approached me directly, took my hand, and led me toward the altar.
"I understand. You must be confused. Even I, who have served Epaga for half my life and acquired the order's knowledge, am so full of questions at not knowing of such a case—how must the person directly involved feel? But please believe that we have no intention whatsoever of causing Eldmia any harm, and follow my guidance. Once you receive the revelation, you will be able to resolve at least more questions than you have now."
"...Really?"
"...Of course, there is also a possibility that even more questions will arise."
Seeing the Saintess speak honestly even while slightly averting her eyes without letting go of my hand, I let out a hollow laugh.
Merely walking three steps already brought dizziness and nausea rushing in, but when an unidentifiable warmth rose from our clasped hands, things began to ease just a tiny bit.
"I would like it if I could find out why such a convoluted arrangement was necessary."
"I, too, wish to know. So please, do tell me once you have received the revelation."
Maybe it was to ease my tension, but looking at Saintess Deoni smiling for the first time, I took a deep breath, knelt before the altar, and offered a prayer as I had learned.
"...You have prayed diligently, I see. Your posture is well-set."
I briefly considered telling her, who seemed slightly surprised as if it were unexpected, about my experience in the World Tree's territory, but for now, I decided to just focus on the prayer and resolve my questions quickly.
Fortunately, perhaps because I had one previous experience, my consciousness stabilized quickly, and by the time the Saintess's hand touched my back, only the faintest sensations remained.
"O Epaga. According to your will, we have arrived at this place."
Even as the very sensation of standing on the ground grew ambiguous, the Saintess's voice pierced my ears with certainty. Considering that even my breathing grew faint and I couldn't hear the pounding of my heart, it was a truly mysterious phenomenon.
"Please, an arrangement for this one."
Simultaneously with the short intonation, an intense floating sensation and a feeling of plummeting rushed in.
What followed was a sensation of my vision opening up even with my eyes closed and the world turning white.
It seemed all revelations shared the same sensation and space, I thought, steeling my heart to brace for the shock that would follow—but unlike the time with the World Tree, no voice came.
...Did it fail?
[No, it's a success.]
My eyes flew open without any exaggeration whatsoever.
And then, within the pure white space, a woman similarly dressed in a pure white dress was lounging on what looked like a pure white throne, staring at me.
[How can you say 'lounging' with a god right in front of you... well, fine. They've heard 'bastard' already, so this is just nitpicking anew.]
Two dark-red horns and long, ebony-black hair swept back and braided down her back.
Epaga, whose appearance I had never once imagined, was utterly ordinary except for her eyes, which blazed white.